CARSON, Calif. – The numbers certainly do not bode well for the LA Galaxy as the defending MLS Cup champions take on Sporting Kansas City on Sunday at Sporting Park (4 p.m., ESPN, ESPN Deportes). In fact, they look downright depressing.
For starters, the Galaxy are coming off a stunning 5-2 loss to the Portland Timbers last weekend at StubHub Center, where they have been nearly invincible this season. They are just 2-8-6 on the road – tied with Houston for fewest away wins – and have not won in Kansas City since a 1-0 victory on Sept. 27, 2007 at Arrowhead Stadium. The Galaxy are also a minus-14 goal differential in games away from home.
Then there is the fact Sporting Kansas City are 9-2-5 at home, tied for fewest home losses with New England, FC Dallas and the Galaxy.
Coaches and players insist the overall picture isn’t as bleak as it might appear.
“We’ll be ready to play,” Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena said. “We’re looking forward to the game.”
The Galaxy (14-10-9, 51 points, second in the West behind FC Dallas) can clinch an automatic berth in the conference playoff semifinals with a victory. Sporting Kansas City (13-11-9, 48 points, tied for fifth in the West with Seattle) can wrap up a postseason spot with a win as well. A tie also could do the trick for the home side, provided either Seattle or San Jose lose on Sunday. Seattle is home to Real Salt Lake and San Jose plays at FC Dallas.
Only three points separate the second- through sixth-place teams in the West.
“It’s going to be an interesting game, two teams with something to play for,” the Galaxy’s Robbie Keane said. Keane’s two goals against Portland gave him 19 on the season and left him third in MLS behind Toronto’s Sebastian Giovinco and Columbus’ Kei Kamara, each of whom have 22 goals. Keane also has matched his career high.
“I’m sure it’s going to be an entertaining game.”
The Galaxy could make it a successful one, provided they solidify their shaky defense. Including last Sunday’s debacle, the Galaxy are 1-2-2 in their last five matches and have allowed nine goals during that span.
Whether it’s lapses in concentration or poor defensive shape, something has to change in a hurry. Players are confident it will.
“That was just a one-off game … that doesn’t define us,” center back Omar Gonzalez said, referring to last Sunday’s loss. “We just have to go to KC and get the result we want.”
Keane said the Galaxy almost need to resort to a pack mentality when it comes to protecting their goal.
“It’s defending as a group,” he said. “It’s everybody as a group, whether it’s the strikers to the goalkeeper. You always have to defend as a group. You win nothing if you don’t defend as a group.
“If you defend as a group, you win a lot more games than you lose.”
SPORTING KANSAS CITY vs. LA GALAXY
Sporting Park, Kansas City, Kan.
October 25, 2015 (WEEK 33, MLS Game #338)
4 pm PT (ESPN/ESPN3)
A critical match in the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs picture is the feature Western Conference match on Decision Day, when Sporting Kansas City play host to the LA Galaxy on Sunday afternoon at Sporting Park. Sporting still have not secured their place in the postseason, following their 2-0 loss to Colorado Rapids at home at midweek, but they can guarantee a spot simply with a win. The Galaxy can finish anywhere from second to fifth – meaning they can go anywhere from a first-round bye to traveling for a Knockout Round match at midweek – coming off a 5-2 defeat by the Portland Timbers at StubHub Center last weekend.
- The Galaxy concluded their regular season at StubHub Center with a 5-2 defeat by the Portland Timbers – the most goals they’ve conceded in a home game since a 6-3 loss to FC Dallas in 2009. Robbie Keane scored a pair of goals, matching his MLS single-season career-high of a year ago with 19 goals.
- The teams are meeting for the second time this season. Omar Gonzalez scored deep in second-half stoppage time to give the Galaxy a 2-1 victory April 18 at StubHub Center.
- The Galaxy have not won in Kansas City since 2007; Sporting have won three of their six home games since, with three draws. Sporting’s last win against the Galaxy in Carson came in 2010; the Galaxy have won their last three home meetings with KC.
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REFEREE: Mark Geiger. AR1 (bench): George Gansner; AR2 (opposite): Kermit Quisenberry; 4th: Allen Chapman
MLS Career: 145 games; FC/gm: 26.5; Y/gm: 3.4; R: 34; pens: 45
SUSPENDED: none
WARNINGS:
FINED NEXT YELLOW CARD: KC: Kevin Ellis, Dom Dwyer, Soni Mustivar … LA: Juninho
DISABLED LIST: LA: Brian Perk (season-ending injury)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: none
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (54 meetings): Sporting 19 wins (2 shootout), 64 goals … Galaxy 24 wins (0 shootout), 83 goals … Ties 11
AT KC (26 meetings): Sporting 14 wins (1 shootout), 38 goals … Galaxy 8 wins (0 shootout), 35 goals … Ties 5
CHECK OUT THE INJURY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
CHECK OUT THE DISCIPLINARY REPORT HEADING INTO THE MATCH
